Ready to feel confident doing your own Halloween makeup this year? All it takes is knowing the relevant techniques and tools, which may be more user-friendly than you think.

 

Keep reading to discover how to:

• Make it precise

• Make it standout

• Make it last

 

Make it Precise: Drawing vs. Tracing

This alone can make a huge difference in the outcome of your Halloween makeup. Skip the drawing in favor of tracing!

 

Don’t: Try to Freehand Draw

Unless you are an incredibly skilled artist, I recommend avoiding freehand drawing. Bumpy lines that should be straight, asymmetry from the left to right side of your face, and other common results of freehand drawing can turn a great Halloween makeup idea into a messy execution. Plus, it takes much longer and who has time for that?

 

Do: Trace Shapes Instead

Instead, work smarter not harder with tracing techniques. By tracing a pre-made shape with makeup, you’ll be able to quickly and easily get the look you want.

 

I’ve traced a glass to get a perfect circle, the edge of an eyelash curler to get a straight line, an art stencil to nail a complex geometric design, the list goes on and on.

 

Make it Standout: Adding Depth

An easy way to make your Halloween makeup pop is to skip the traditional 2D looks in favor of a 3D look. 

 

Attach Items

Using a skin-safe adhesive (such as eyelash glue or fashion tape), you can attach a variety of items to your face and body.

 

Scrapbooking stickers, flower petals, toy spiders, these items and more can be temporarily glued to your skin. These physical items will add a striking depth to your look, compared to the 2D drawn versions of them.

 

The heavier the item, the more intensive an adhesive you will need. Spirit Gum, for example, will be useful if you are attaching a prosthetic wound, a fake beard, and so on. You will also want to use the dedicated Spirit Gum remover product to take off the adhesive at the end of the day.

 

Pre-Made Prosthetics

There are plenty of pre-made prosthetics that are accessible even for novices. I like Tinsley Transfers, which you can usually find at Halloween stores like Spirit Halloween. They work similar to the water-activated temporary tattoos many of us loved as kids. All you need is some water and a few minutes to attach it to your skin. Get all the gore without all the time, effort, and hassle!

 

Make it Last: Locking in the Look

Makeup by its very nature is temporary. After you apply it, it slowly starts to fade, smudge, run, etc. If you want your Halloween makeup look to stay pristine throughout a long night of walking, dancing, eating, chatting, etc., then you will need to take some steps accordingly.

 

Water-Resistant Makeup

One strategy is to use makeup designed to be water-resistant (meaning it won’t be affected by sweat, rain, etc). 

 

Alcohol-activated makeup is a popular option. It looks similar to watercolor paint, but you’ll use a dedicated alcohol-activator to drip a few drops onto the product to get it liquid-enough to apply to your skin. It dries and looks as if it is coming from beneath your skin, which is why it’s often used for bruises and scratches. You’ll use the same alcohol-activator to remove the product at the end of the day.

 

A Super Setting Spray

Another strategy is to use a heavy-duty setting spray. I love the Kryolan Fixing Spray. Think of it like hairspray, but for your skin. It’s designed to work with their water-activated products (think skin-safe watercolor paint), which are even more susceptible to getting rubbed off from sweat or rain. You can use it with any makeup product and it’ll last really well. 

 

I’ve used it when doing full-body paint (previous Halloween look of a black-and-white film star) and the makeup lasted through a full day of outdoor fun at Halloween town, even during the rain!

 

To remove the setting spray (and the Halloween makeup underneath), just use soap and water. It may take a bit of scrubbing, but it’ll come off.

 

I hope you found these tips helpful! Feel free to reach out (lyra@lyrafreely.com) with any questions!

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(No AI was used in the brainstorming, researching, writing, or editing of this article)